Improvement in removable runners for carriage-wheels



e. A. KEENE.

Runners for Carriage-Wheels.

No. 44.141. Patented Sept. 6, 1864.

Witnesses:

AM. PHOTO-LITHW C0. N.Y. (OSBORNES PROCESS) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. KEENE, OF NEVBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND HENRY V. MOULTON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN REMOVABLE RUNNERS FOR CARRIAGE-WHEELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 14,141, dated September 6, 1864.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. KEENE, of Newburyport, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Removable Runner for CarriagelVheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel provided with one of my runners, the runner being represented as resting on the snow or ground; and Fig. 2' is a similar view of the same, the runner being represented on top of the wheel, as it should be placed when being attached.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters in both drawings.

The nature of my invention consists, first, in constructing a removable shoe or sliding runner, B, for carriage-wheels with a concave side corresponding to the periphery of the wheel to which it is to be applied, and of such a length that when used as a sleigh or sled runner it will preserve its horizontal position and prevent the wheel from turning without being chained or tied to the body of the carriage and, second, in the employment of an elastic pad or cushion, l, in combination with a block, (J, placed in between two contiguous spokes of a wheel, and straps connecting said block with the runner, whereby the runner may be readily and securely attached to any wheel, or removed, the elastic cushion preventing the block from chafing the felly, and also compensating for any shrinking or swelling of the wood, and thus keeping the runner always tight to the wheel.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents a carriage, cart, or car wheel of any description in general use.

B is the removable runner, which may be made entirely of wood or metal, or wood with a metallic shoe, the front end, (I, and back end, 0, being turned up like a common sledrunner, as shown in the drawings. The thickness of the runner B is a little more than the width of the felly of the wheel to which it is to be applied, its relative length being clearly shown in the drawings.

f f f f are metallic cleats, two on each side of the runner B, being bedded in the same so as to be flush with its sides, and confined by bolts or screws. These cleats, as shown in the drawings, project beyond the concave ed go or top of the runner, and overlap the felly 011 both sides of it, whereby it is obvious that the runner will be prevented from any lateral motion on the wheel.

g g are cleats or straps similar to f, but

longer, being fast to each sideof the shoe 1%,

as shown in the drawings, and projecting beyond the folly and nearly across the block 0. This block 0 is made of wood, the shape (side view) of which is clearly shown in the drawings, the width of the block being the same as that of the folly. The two ends of the block, on one side, are cut away so as to fit in between two contiguous spokes, as represented by dotted lines. I

I is a strip of india-rubber, or other suitably elastic material, as long and wide as the convex side of the block (J, placed between the fell y and said block, for the purpose specified above.

his a screw-bolt passing through the cleats g and block 0, as shown in the drawings, by means of which devices it is obvious that the shoe can be readily and securely attached to the wheel.

My improvement is particularly valuable for teamsters and others traveling considerable distances from home, where they are liable to be suddenly overtaken with snow-storms when using wheels, or as suddenly brought upon bare ground when using runners. It will also be found of great utility in those latitudes where there is comparatively little snow and it hardly pays to keep sleds and sleighs, a sled or sleigh being easily extemporized whenever required by the employment of my removable runners.

Having thus described the conslruetion and cushion I, in combination with the wheel, operation of my improvement, what I claim block, and runner, substantially as set forth, as new, and desire to secure by Letters Pat and for the purpose described. ent, is- G. A. KEENE.

1. Oonfining the runner B to the wheel by Witnesses:

means of the block (1, straps g g, and bolt h, SUSAN F. MOULTON, substantially as described. 0. USGOOD MORSE,

2. The employment of the elastic pad or J. G. G-EINSH. 

